Today, Monday June 30th, marked the opening of the summer school organized as part of the European Values and Migration (EUAMI) project, promoted by the University of Padua and CesUe. The event brought together students from five partner schools to discuss active citizenship, youth participation, and civic engagement.
Running from June 29th to July 4th, the EUAMI summer school is led by the University of Padua and merges a vibrant network of sfive educational institutions: high schools from Bulgaria (Emilian Stanev SU), Italy (Istituto E. Fermi and Canossa Campus), Poland (Zespół Szkół Administracyjno-Ekonomicznych), and Spain (Sant Josep Obrer). Alongside them are Euractiv Italia, a leading media outlet focused on EU affairs, and CesUe – Center for studies, training, communication, and project development on the European Union and global governance – acting as co-organizer.
https://www.focuseurope.it/euami-project-lessons-on-the-european-union-and-migration-now-available-on-moodle/
The morning session has been held by Matteo Bassoli, coordinator of the EUAMI project and Professor at the Department of Political Science, Law, and International Studies (SPGI) at the University of Padua. The lecture focused on the reasons why it is crucial for youth to take action for what they believe in.
Bassoli encouraged students to reflect on the tools available to promote their causes, highlighting options such as boycotts, protests (citing the example of the Budapest Pride), and referendums.
The discussion was complemented by a survey conducted during the session, comparing what young people consider important forms of activism versus what they actually do in practice. The survey revealed that students consider voting, creating or signing petitions, and participating in street protests as the most effective means of civic – and youth – engagement. “If you think something is good, the best you can do is go and protest,” one student stated passionately. Another participant added, “We are the future, this is why the young voice is more important.”
All set for the EUAMI Summer School 2025 in Bressanone/Brixen
Bassoli underscored the importance of voting: “If you don’t vote, your voice will never be heard,” because of demographic reasons. The Professor showed the Eurobarometer Post Election Survey of 2024, which illustrates the percentage of electors divided by age groups. While the voting population above 55 years old represented 58% of the total voters, the age group 15-24 only represented 36% of the overall votes. He emphasized that younger generations cannot expect older voters to share with them the same values and demands. When asked if they felt represented by their parents and grandparents, the students unanimously replied “No.”
The session marked the beginning of a week of collaborative debates, workshops, and activities aimed at conveying to young Europeans the knowledge of the values of the European Union and the meaning of being a European citizen.
A cura di Sara Bertolli
